August 2018 Community Benefit Update
We would like to share the following community benefit news and resources with you. Please visit www.chausa.org/communitybenefit for access to all of CHA's updates and resources on community benefit.
Join CHA's Medicaid Makes It Possible Campaign
Join CHA's Medicaid Makes It Possible campaign to raise awareness about the value of the Medicaid program. This essential health insurance program – and the lives of 74 million who rely on it – is at risk due to legislative and administrative proposals that could dramatically cut funding and reduce eligibility, causing millions of vulnerable individuals to lose health coverage.
As we head into 2019, when it is expected that Congress will take up entitlement reforms, this campaign will have laid a foundation for CHA membership so that together we can more effectively engage lawmakers and counter false arguments that stigmatize Medicaid recipients as undeserving of health coverage. To get involved in the campaign by sharing your story or to get more information about Medicaid, visit CHAUSA.ORG/MEDICAID.
Healing the Multitudes: Catholic Health Care's Commitment to Community Health
If you receive CHA's journal, Health Progress, keep your eyes open for the September/October edition which will include new resources that call on the Catholic health ministry to take a leadership role in addressing the social determinants of health. The resources, Healing the Multitudes: Catholic Health Care's Commitment to Community Health, lay out the traditions and values that compel the ministry to give special attention to its neighbors who are economically poor and to work for the common good. The resources also lay out a community health improvement strategy for addressing the social determinants of health. Visit the CHA website to learn more and order.
Now Available – Community Benefit Program Evaluation Webinar Series Recordings
Recordings from CHA/Vizient's webinar series on community benefit program evaluation are now available. The series, based on CHA's guide Evaluating Your Community Benefit Impact, was designed to help community benefit managers document the progress and impact of their programs while meeting Internal Revenue Service and/or funder requirements for program evaluation.
Webinar 1 – Introduction to Community Benefit Program Evaluation: Education/Prevention Program
Webinar 2 – Evaluating Multi-Component Interventions
Webinar 3 – Evaluating Community Initiatives
Webinar 4 – Evaluating Policy, System and Environmental (PSE) Change
Webinar 5 – Evaluation Forum
CHA and Vizient are currently planning to create additional resources to support community benefit program evaluation. Please share your thoughts and ideas on what might be most useful to you and your organization.
CMS to Start Auditing Hospital Uncompensated Care
An Aug. 4, 2018, Modern Healthcare article (login required) reports that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin audits this fall of hospitals' uncompensated care reported on the worksheet S-10, part of the Medicare cost report. This is the first fiscal year of a three-year phase-in during which CMS will use uncompensated care reported on the S-10 to calculate hospital disproportionate-share hospital payments.
Survey on Hospitals and Housing
The Urban Institute, funded by a grant from JPMorgan Chase, has just launched a survey of nonprofit hospitals about their investments in housing-related activities. The survey aims to assess the practice, motivations and challenges of nonprofit hospitals considering or implementing housing-related projects to improve community health. The Urban Institute will use this data to develop a research-based, actionable toolkit for hospitals with interest in carrying out housing initiatives or investing in affordable housing development. This document provides more information about the project.
The survey was sent to a random sample of 300 hospitals and was directed to hospitals' CEOs with a request to send the survey to the staff person most responsible for housing and community development investments. If you receive an invitation to participate, we encourage you to respond, even if your organization is not investing in housing interventions. If you have any questions about the survey, please reach out to either Brice McKeever ([email protected]) or Eva Allen ([email protected]).
Health Systems and Community Investment
Visit the Center for Community Investment's (CCI's) blog for recent updates on CCI's Accelerating Investments for Healthy Communities (AIHC) initiative, designed to help health institutions that were already investing in the upstream determinants of health advance and deepen their investments in affordable housing.
American Hospital Association Launches Center for Health Innovation
The American Hospital Association has announced plans for a new Center for Health Innovation. The Center will harness the work of Health Forum, the Health Research & Educational Trust, AHA's Data Center and The Value Initiative to provide tools and resources that can help members innovate as they continue to redefine their role in delivering the highest quality health care, but also in driving partnerships that promote health and well-being in the communities they serve. For more information visit the Center's website.
ACHI Annual Meeting Call for Proposals
The Association for Community Health Improvement's (ACHI) 16th annual National Conference is scheduled for March 20-21 in Chicago. ACHI is looking for presenters to share their expertise, demonstrate actionable tools for population health and engage their 700 conference participants in meaningful discussion. ACHI is seeking proposals for breakout sessions and posters that align with one of the three conference tracks: 1) Caring for Populations, 2) Clinical-Community Connections and 3) Collaborating for Community Innovation. Review the call for proposals here. Proposals are due by Sept. 28.
RWJF now Accepting Applications for 2019 Culture of Health Prize
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is officially accepting applications for the 2019 RWJF Culture of Health Prize. The annual award honors and elevates communities that are bringing partners together to improve health for all residents. Communities can compete to receive a $25,000 prize and the chance to share their accomplishments with the nation. The application deadline is Nov. 1, 2018. Visit https://rwjf.ws/2LLwYUT to learn more.
TFAH Launches 4-Part Webinar Series: Taking Action to Promote Health Equity
The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) is launching a free 4-part webinar series called Taking Action to Promote Health Equity — Using the Lessons from Cutting-Edge Practices to Improve Health and Well Being. The goal is to shine a bright light on some of the most compelling and replicable activities that help advance health equity. This event is recommended for anyone working in public health, advocacy, community-based systems, education, housing, hunger, insurers and local and state health officials. RSVP today for the first webinar scheduled for Sept. 18.
Upcoming CHA Events
- Oct. 2-3, 2018 – Community Benefit 101: The Nuts and Bolts of Planning and Reporting Community Benefit, St. Louis – Taught by experienced community benefit leaders, this program presents a practical framework for assessing community needs and planning, evaluating and reporting on community benefit programs. For more information, visit the CHA website.
- Oct. 16, 2018 – The Family Caregivers Center – This webinar will feature the Family Caregivers Center of Mercy. The Center was born out of the needs of family caregivers who often lack the support and training needed to care for loved ones with chronic conditions. The Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a community-based program offering one-on-one coaching, a resource library, educational sessions and discussions, support groups, volunteer companions and more. This webinar will describe how the Center got started, how it is operated primarily through volunteers, and the impact it is having on the community. For more information, visit the CHA website. This webinar is free to CHA members.
Community Benefit in the News
View recent articles from Catholic Health World and Health Progress featuring community benefit news and programs from the across the ministry. The theme of the September/October issue of Health Progress is "Taking Our Care Outside the Walls," and has many articles of interest to community benefit leaders.